Electrically-operated switch



Sept. 15, 1925. 1,553,764

l. J. FERNEKES ELECTRICALLY OPERATED SWITCH original Filed March 19 1921 Patented Sept. 15, 1925.

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Iarvm or oHI'cAGo, ILLINOIS. I

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original applicatioltnledMaren 19, 1921, seri i no. 453,547. Divided andthis application filed may 20; 1922: Serial 110,563,834;

vide an improved switchmachine orswitch operating mechanism"; to* provide a switch operating .deviee= which ma be actuated or controlled from*distant*-points; to provide a s1 ingv mechanism electrically controlled for operaaag'a switch and for operating. one or more indicating" targets"; and to provide such other advantages and improvements as" s will appear more fully fro fbuowin'g;

specifications In the accompanying drawings illustrating this invention;

Figure 1 is a sectional view showing the operating mechanism and signal and Fi 'ure 2 is an enlarged detail also showing 516 control circuits and distant operatin signal Vhile the 3 present device is especially adapted for operation from a moving train, such train control mechanism forms no part of the present invention and it will also be noted that the present device may be operated from any suitable source of current or in any desired manner. When the device is used in connection with a system such as shown in said application, three conductors 7, 8 and 46 are utilizedfor supplying current from a train battery (not shown) and indicating signals 10 are placed at suitable points along the track for showing the conditionof the switch which is controlled by the machine. These signals are preferably of thedwarf signal type and'adapted to be clearly visible from the train. Each signal may have a signal arm 11 as well as a lamp a1; indicating the condition ofthe i switch; provide" suitable switch; operat--- 12 of any ordinary indicating type to show the condition of the switch 3 at-night'as-well" as by day.-

The switch machine-or switclr operating andsignal mechanism is provided with a signal stand 13 carrying lamp signal 'l4 and target arms 15. The stand 13 is mounted on a box or receptacle 16'wl1ich enclosesan electric motor 17 of the reversible type (so I and whiclrhas' a pinion 18'meshi'ng with an tation of the gear 19 causesthe shaft 21 and connected parts to move longitudinally. The outer end of the shaft 21 is'connect'ed by means of a bracket 24* to the switch points-25 and 26qwhich are joined by a crossar or connection 27. In order to permit:

the rotation of the shaft where it engages thebracket 24', it is provided with an en'- larged head-QS Wliich engages-with a box 29 oiithe bracket. A'nutor gea-rSO- may beprovidedon the shaft 21 on the outside-of the box 16 for-j rotating the shaft-in an emergency in the event that the motor fails to operate the switch. The motor also operates the stand 13, being connected there with in any suitable manner as by means of a gear 34 on the motor shaft which meshes with the gear 20 on the bottom of the stand. An electric switch 31 preferably of the knife blade type is mounted in the box 16, This switch has an arm 32 having a pin and slot,'or lost motion connection 33 with the shaft 21. The switch 31 is intended to control the operation of the signal device 10 after the operation of the switch itself, or at least at the end of the switch operating movement and the lost motion connection is to ensure the operation of the switch before the operation of the signal so that the switch will be in the position indicated by thesignal.

When the switch 31 moves in one direction it closes a connection from the conductor 8 through a conductor 44 to the switch arm 32-which engages with a contact 45 and then through the conductor 46 to the signal 10 and from the signal 10 back to the other main line or conductor 7. If current is supplied to the conductors 7 and 46, it will be seen that the signal 10 will be lighted or actuated when the arm 32 engages with the contact as when the shaft 21 is moved to the right as shown in Figure 2. If the contact t5 is connected with the other contact 47 of the switch 81 as by means of aconductor 48, the signal 10 will be energized at the end of each longitudinal movement of the shaft 21. 7

When current is supplied to the motor 17 through the conductors 7 and 8, the gear 18 will turn the gear 19 which in turn will rotate the shaft 21 and this shaft willmove longitudinally to open or close the switch 3. lVhen the switch has been moved to .one position, the currentwill be cut off and the switch will remain in such position until it is desired to again operate the same. As the switch is operated, the signal post 13 is also turned so that the signals 14 and 15 will properly indicate the position ofthe switch. The movement of the shaft 21 also causes the switch 31 to be operated to close the circuit to the signal 10 and any number of such signals may be utilized as desired. When the switch is to be moved in the other direction, the motor is reversed and the shaft 21 will consequently be rotated in the direction opposite to its former movement which will cause it to move longitudinally in the opposite direction and operate the switch accordingly. It will be noted that changes may be made in the construction of the apparatus and arrangement of the parts without departing from the scope of this invention and changes may be made in order to adapt it for different types of switches or working conditions, and therefore I do not wish to be limited to the construction herein shown and described, except as specified in the following claims:

1. In an electrically operated switch, a

pair of connected movable switch points, a shaft for moving the switch points, a motor for rotating the shaft, and means for moving the shaft longitudinally as it is rotated comprising a threaded member aflixed to the shaft and engaging the internal threads of a fixed member throughwhich this shaft extends.

2. In an electrically operated switch, a shaft and switch points connected thereto, means for moving the shaft longitudinally as it is rotated thus shifting the switch points, a signal for indicating the position of the switch points, and a motor for operating the signal and for rotating the shaft in unison.

3. The combination with an electrically operated switch comprising a rotatable shaft and means for moving it longitudinally as it is rotated, of a signal at a distance from the switch, means for closing a circuitto the signal said means comprising a knife switch and a .lost motion connection between the knife switch and the shaft depending upon longitudinal movement of the latter for its actuation.

4. In an electrically operated switch, the

combination of a pair of connected movable switch points, a shaft for moving said points, a rotatable connection between the shaft and points, a motor for rotating the shaft and means for moving the shaft longitudinally as it is rotated comprising a threaded member affixed to the shaft and engaging with the threads of a coacting stationary member.

IRVIN J. FERNEKES. 

